WhitePages Lays Out Case for Android's™ Ice Cream Sandwich at Mobile World Congress

SEATTLE and BARCELONA, Spain, February 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

- Top mobile app developer offers a peek into the possibilities offered by the platform's advanced new user interface, fragments manager and social API as the company expands its suite of apps

ShowStoppers @ MWC 2012 -- As the largest online and mobile provider of people and business contact information, WhitePages today will showcase new advanced Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich™(ICS) features in its WhitePages app, as well as in two apps coming soon:  the Localicious neighborhood search app redesigned for the tablet and a to-be-announced new "social Caller ID" app.  As a featured partner in the Google™ Android Stand at Mobile World Congress, WhitePages will be demonstrating the possibilities of ICS, specifically as it relates to the new platform's refined user interface, fragments manager tool and social API. WhitePages will also demonstrate the possibilities at the ShowStoppers event (booth #33), including a preview of two upcoming apps that will launch in the coming months.

"We are excited to be among the first developers to take advantage of the advanced user interface and functionality that Ice Cream Sandwich provides," said Bill Brooks, Director of Mobile Products and Business Development at WhitePages. "We have always been strong believers in the Android platform and look forward to the rapid adoption of our apps as more consumers are introduced to the benefits of this new operating system."

Putting the power of ICS on full display for the first time, WhitePages will be offering demonstrations of how it is optimizing for the new platform, specifically in the following key areas:

• Refined User Interface:  ICS's improved user interface is designed to let users navigate with simple, intuitive gestures, allowing for engaging interactions. WhitePages can demonstrate the following as it relates to user interface:
  • Action Bars: WhitePages has integrated action bars into its forthcoming "social Caller ID" app so that users can now access contextual options quickly, providing easy access to the app's most important actions.
  • Swipe Navigation: The introduction of swipe navigation into the WhitePages and "social Caller ID" apps provides users with an easy way to navigate through multiple prominent activities or ways of viewing content. WhitePages has leveraged the compatibility libraries provided by Google to deliver this same great experience on legacy devices running Gingerbread and Froyo.

In addition to updating user interface throughout all of its Android apps, WhitePages is also taking full advantage of Android's first style guide as it designs all of its apps and is implementing its new, modern typeface within "social Caller ID".

• Fragments Manager: WhitePages is leveraging ICS's updated fragments manager as it develops the Localicious tablet app to efficiently translate the app from mobile to tablet by reusing fragments in different layout configurations to optimize the user experience based on different screen sizes.
• Social API: WhitePages is tapping into ICS's Social API as it continues to develop its Localicious mobile and tablet apps, and especially as it develops its forthcoming "social caller ID" app. Both apps integrate social networks into their core offering and ICS's social API lets them read profile data from a provider like Foursquare or Facebook, which can then be easily integrated and displayed with user permission.

WhitePages began developing for Android in 2008 specifically because of the platform's openness. For example, the ability to directly access key phone functions like contacts and communication with the user's permission led to launch of WhitePages' Caller ID app, which would not have been possible on other platforms. From a business perspective, Android Market's™ open nature and quick upload process has allowed WhitePages to plan and execute a marketing campaign around when an app launches, which has become an increasingly important tactic given the number of apps that are being published on a daily basis. As evidenced by last year's launch of Localicious, this initial push makes a huge difference in building awareness and momentum, which ultimately set the app up for success in Android Market.

About WhitePages

WhitePages is the leading provider of contact information for people and businesses in the U.S. With over 30 million unique monthly users and powering over 2 billion searches on over 1,500 sites including MSN and the United States Postal Service, only WhitePages offers consumers one-click access to more than 200 million adults, also providing them with the ability to edit and control their own listings. The company's suite of mobile products includes a top-50 mobile website and popular Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, webOS and Windows 7 applications that have been downloaded more than 15 million times.

For more information, please visit http://www.whitepages.com or check out the WhitePages blog at blog.whitepages.com.

WhitePages and their respective logos are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of White Pages. Other products and company names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Android and Android Market are trademarks of Google, Inc.